Father Magat during Simbang Gabi 12/23/2005, founder of Guadalupe Free Clinic for the medically uninsured residents of Westmoreland County & Colonial Beach (www.guadalupefreeclinic.org) PO Box 275, Colonial Beach, Va 22443 (804-224-0571)

Photos by Brad James

Our parish has celebrated Simbang Gabi for several years. To the left you'll find photos from our December 2005 celebration. Below is an explanation about the celebration.

Simbang Gabi (Night Masses)

"Simbang Gabi," literally translated as "Mass of the Night," is a 400-year-old Christmas tradition of the Philippines - where the yuletide season starts as early as September and lasts until the feast of the Three Kings in January. It is a 9-day novena of Masses from December 16 - 24, to usher in the birth of the Christ. So called by the Tagalog-speaking population in the island of Luzon, in other parts of the country it is known as "Misa de Gallo," or "Mass of the Rooster" - perhaps because only roosters are up so early!

The Masses are also referred to as "Misa de Aguinaldo," or "Gift Mass." Introduced in the 17th century by Spanish missionaries, the Masses were held in the pre-dawn hours so farmers and fishermen, who started their labor for the day early, could take part as well. In fact, flickering candles from the star-shaped Christmas lanterns known as "parols" would adorn the outside of humble homes to light the way for the early-morning churchgoers on their way to "Simbang Gabi". Even today, the "parol" is so much a part of the tradition.

And so, Filipino immigrants bring this tradition with them wherever they go. It is no surprise that they brought it here to the United States. There are many other "Simbang Gabi" Masses, all of them are in the evening. Only at St. Charles in Arlington, Virginia does the tradition of Masses at the break of dawn for 9 days continue.

How it Began

It is not easy keeping a tradition alive. It started rather simply in 1997 when a couple asked the then-new pastor if they could hold the dawn Masses in the parish. The good father gave his blessing. No more than half a dozen families participated in the beginning. In fact, any day where there were 2 or 3 dozen at the Masses was considered quite a success. By 2006, over a hundred people came every single day - the number more than doubling on the weekends. With the nurturing and nourishment of the community, the tradition is alive and well in the parish. In many ways, Simbang Gabi here at St. Charles is an activity that goes beyond the boundaries of the parish. It draws many Filipino families from outside the parish yearning to continue their observance of this beloved tradition. St. Charles has hosted this annual celebration for more than a decade now, and as more and more non-Filipino parishioners embrace the tradition, it has become truly a parish event in more ways than one.

What You Can Expect

The Masses are in English, celebrated by our parish clergy as well as visiting priests. Some prayers and carols are in Pilipino. But no matter the language of your birth, when we all sing and pray from our hearts, we can only realize how truly universal our faith is. The current Missal is observed, and there is a short novena after communion every Mass. In keeping with tradition, attendees enjoy hot food and drinks after every Mass.

We hope that you come and join us. What else would you do at 5:00 a.m. on a December morning? At 5:00 o'clock in the morning, there may not be much pomp or circumstance, but we all will have our simple faith.